Title: Convection

Grade Level:9

Course:General Science

Lesson Overview

The students will be able to explain what a convection current is, and how it works. Also, the students will connect convection currents to earthquakes. The class will begin with the teacher asking the question what casues the Earth's plates to move? The students will think about it then I will show them a convection demo with out explaining it. The students will observe what they see and form a hypothesis about their observaiton. The class will continue with answering guiding qusetions to create notes and explain the demo.

Learning Performances

By the end of this lesson students will draw a convection current, and explain what a convection current is and why it occurs. Then students will connect convection currents to the plate tectonics.

Links to Standards or Benchmarks

Standard

Materials Needed

- slide show of earthquake pictures
- Convection demo, bread pan, oil, thyme, two candles, two coffee mugs
- reading
- class worksheet

Time Required

70 mins

Instructional Sequence

10 min review of the Earth's layers and their characteristics
5 min slide show
10 mins create hypothesis on board what is occuring during an earthquake? Why do you think earthquakes occur?
30 minutes for convection demo, discussion and recording on worksheet
10 reading to reinforce the concept of convection current and the movement of the earths crust
5 wrap up

Introducing the lesson

The class will start with a ten minute review of previous material, the layers of the earth and their characteristics, densities and temperatures.
The new material will be introduced with a 5 min slide show of pictures of the affects of earthquakes.

Instructional Activities

10 hypothesis with the class on the board What causes and earthquake? / Why earthquakes occur?
30 minutes to perform convection current demo, and review what happens to particles when they are heated and cooled to explain what is occuring in the bread bowl. Complete handout with class as a source of notes.
10 minutes to read handout and discuss as a reinforcment for the ideas covered in class.
5 min wrap up. Which hypothesis was correct? What charcteristics of the earh's layers causes the convection currents? Hand out question worksheet.

Concluding the Lesson

Reference back throughout the lesson to the begining slide show, to reinforce the affects earthquakes have on people. Students will complete question worksheet for homework.

Assessing Student Understanding

By reviewing their understanding on the question worksheet.

Cautions

Use of a hcandles, make sure students are aware and fire extinguisher is ready.

Sources

Where did you get the idea for this lesson. List references used to develop lesson plan (e.g. curriculum materials, Internet resources). Use APA format.

Teaching Resources

Worksheets

DEMO LP - MALINDA - JAYS FB